Societies and people need myth. They don’t do very well without it (just look at the modern world). Without myths to instruct and inspire the people’s spiritual development suffers. Myth and story in general offers people more than they’ll ever know. It gives them inspiration and instruction yes but even more than that. It also gives them emotional resilience, courage, wisdom, and a great many other things.
One work that has resonated for some time now is J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of The Rings trilogy (and associated works) which was based off a good number of other great stories. The story features a grand and epic quest as well as a cast of diverse characters. Some good, some strong, some noble, some dumb, some evil, and some places inbetween. But of all of the characters in this story there are some that offer more lessons than others for men.
And one of the best in this story is Aragorn. A man who starts off a wandering ranger but by the end becomes a king. While there have probably been entire books written about the lessons this trilogy contains (and the characters within) I want to focus on a particular aspect here that of Aragorn’s time as a ranger and what these rangers represented.
Aragorn The Ranger
Inspiration for this post came from William De Vere’s “The Rangers Of The North” (don’t agree with a lot of the publication but like the article itself) an article he wrote about the significance of the Dúnedain in Tolkien’s world as well as our own. There were in particular a couple of quotes that were shared that stood out to me. The Dúnedain function as a large part of protectors of the people against the evil that stalks the land and the many servants of the enemy (and the many guises they put on).
To do so they must be strong of body, skilled in combat, intelligence, wise, and also noble of spirit. It has been said before but I’ll say it here again before a male can become a king he must first be a man. It was here that Aragorn forged and sharpened many of the skills that would be called upon later in his life. Not at home in the cities and towns they were men of the wild and reflected that.
They were in the true sense of the word (not the corrupted modern sense) “Noble Savages” in that they bore a nobleness within them without degrading into weakness. Like I mentioned above their goal was to keep the people safe from the agents of the enemy that “they are found in many places, not Mordor only.” Aragorn says.
Keeping Simple Folk Safe
Another aspect of the rangers is protecting the foolish people from the evils that be, even though the people themselves are not aware of such evil and even if doing so makes the people dislike them or fear them. It’s a bit of a doubled edged sword, protecting those things that you care about. Especially when those things can never appreciate what was done. When people are happy and carefree they don’t understand that was built by bloodshed.
Nothing changes about that. Something else that the rangers did was to stay in the fallen kingdom of their ancestors instead of making for greener pastures. Though the kingdom had been lost they staid and fought within it, doing whatever they could to contest the enemy. Even though it was likely an unwinnable battle, they still felt a duty and a love towards their home and stayed there to fight and do what they could. Even when it became enemy land.
They still protected the people, though they were foolish and ungrateful. And they still lived apart, in the woods, wandering through the lands. Always a mobile wall against the darkness that threatens to crowd in and snuff out anything and everything that is good. But that is something the enemy cannot do as long as the rangers exist.
Fighting The Tragic Fight
In many ways looking around at the world today it can seem like nothing but a reset button is going to be of any use. That battling the battle is foolish and isn’t doing any good. That standing for things that are good, noble, and precious is only going to result in watching those things be destroyed. But that is not true and though fighting can seem foolish that doesn’t mean it is. Just because you can’t see a winnable way doesn’t mean there isn’t one.
As men were are to steward what we love. Family, friends, tribe, culture, honor, and the good things of this earth. Without strong, wise, and cunning noble men to stand against the tide then it is all lost. And though you may think and feel like you’re the only one standing there are others out there in the wilderness. Brothers fighting the same fight as you. Though you may not see them they are there and victory is always possible as long as one will fight.
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-Charles Sledge
